I am the fittest I’ve ever been. And I’m just back from my first exercise class in six years. I tackled ‘Hot Iron’ which is basically Body Pump, or sort of cardio weights. But I had to leave the class halfway through (it was full) because I felt like I might faint.

It’s not a new feeling for me - I’ve had it often enough to know that it’s caused by poor breathing leading to a lack of oxygen in my body. The feeling is not one of exhaustion but of sleepiness and a need to yawn.

Part of getting good at an exercise is learning when to breath. When boxing I force out a bit of breath with every punch: pff, pff, pff, rocky-style. Lifting weights I grunt and growl a lot and breathe out on the lift. Today i wasn’t sure what I was doing. It didn’t help that we started with squats and lunges which are my weakest area. I rejoined the class and finished once I’d recovered. I’ll go back because I need knocking out of my comfort zone to get an all round fitness. But tomorrow I won’t be able to walk!